Hariman Sharma, a forward-thinking farmer from Himachal Pradesh, has changed apple farming by developing a new variety that can grow in warmer areas of the lower hills.
Previously, it was believed that apples could only grow in the cold, higher hills. However, Sharma proved this wrong with his innovation. He created the 'HRMN 99' apple variety, which can grow at altitudes as low as 1,800 feet and is resistant to scab, a common disease that affects apples.
This new variety has become popular not only in India but also in countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, Zambia, and Germany. So far, over 100,000 horticulturists have planted 1.4 million saplings of this variety.
The National Innovation Foundation has taken the variety for further research and development, planting 33,000 saplings in 29 states. Sharma himself has distributed more than 190,000 saplings to 6,000 farmers.
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Sharma was recently announced as a recipient of the Padma Shri award, in the "Others (Agriculture)" category, in recognition of his dedication and innovation in agriculture. He is the only person from Himachal Pradesh to receive a Padma award this year.
Besides apples, Sharma also grows mangoes, kiwis, and pomegranates on his orchard, demonstrating his versatility as a farmer.
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